Causes of why Ford/Carter ran for president?

Causes of why Ford/Carter ran for president?

Ford, when he lost to Carter, was already the president.

Carter, who was Gov of Georgia and a decent military officer… Was a limp wristed leftist that bought into the propaganda that the USA must atone for its manner of founding and innumerable "sins"

In the 1976 election, Carter branded himself an outsider of the DC Swamp. Ford had just pardoned Nixon a few years earlier, confirming corruption.

Democrats vs Republicans, like always.